SHILLONG, July 7 – Like in the rest of the country, LPG consumers in the State capital here would be able to transfer their gas agency as per their choice under a Central Government directive.

Under the “portability of gas connection,” similar to mobile phone portability, LPG cylinder consumers can choose the gas agency of their liking if they are unhappy with the service of their present gas agency. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had approved the gas portability scheme in January this year in 480 districts across the country that included the districts of Meghalaya.

East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said that “LPG connection portability has already been launched similar to the mobile number portability. Those consumers not happy with the services of their gas agency can shift to another gas agency of their choice without changing the connection number with a small formality with the new gas agency. This will ensure better services.”

The Central Government together with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) first launched LPG connection portability scheme in 24 districts covering 13 States in October last year.

Based on its success, the scheme was launched throughout India on January 22 this year, covering a population of over 8.2 crore LPG consumers in 480 districts of the country.

Some of the other features of the scheme are that there would be “no transfer fee or additional security deposit charges” for transfer of connection. The transfers can also be done online.

Meanwhile, Goyal said, the district administration has already started the home delivery from June this year and the system of point delivery has been discontinued.

Goyal added that to enforce the home delivery system, the district administration has constituted teams. “In the process, one of the teams seized the delivery truck of Longkmie Gas Agency distributing the cylinders from the roadside instead of home delivery,” he stated.

He further stated that the home delivery charge fixed by the administration is Rs 25 per cylinder over the reserve sale price of Rs 421 per cylinder, which in total would cost Rs 446 for a cylinder delivered at the door step.